Today's Edition
Dubai (Aletihad)
Dubai Kahayla Classic
He is 17 from 17, and the unbeaten, brilliant Asfan Al Khalediah is the Saudi star to contend with in the opening race for Purebred Arabians. Trained by Nasser Multaq, the seven-year-old sealed his greatness five weeks ago with victory in the G1 Obaiya Arabian Classic at the Saudi Cup meeting. His trainer, who also saddles G1 Mneefah Cup winner Tilal Al Khalediah, reports both have been in fine form since arriving in Dubai. The international field includes the Oman-trained Falaah. He has travelled to Meydan before, finishing second to the reopposing RB Rich Lyke Me in G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 in December.
Godolphin Mile
Isolate is one of six winners from this meeting last year who will line up again this year, but the Doug Watson-trained speedster faces a tough roadblock this time around in the form of Saudi Crown. Both Isolate and Saudi Crown come out of the Gr.1 Saudi Cup (1,800m), where Saudi Crown led until the final 30 metres before settling for third while Isolate dropped to sixth. Saudi Crown is drawn nine, two spots inside of the defending champion. “The draw isn’t great,” said Isolate’s trainer Doug Watson, “but they’re the true speed in the race. The others might try to go but I think it will be those two vying for the lead. “He’s [Saudi] in great form and he loves this track.”
Dubai Gold Cup
If there was an eye-catcher in exercise on Thursday it was Eldar Eldarov, who fairly whizzed around the turf course on the training track in front of trainer Roger Varian. "They set off at a mile and he just quickened up on the back straight. He wasn’t hard pushed but that was just what we wanted to see," Varian said. Among his rivals, two stand out. The Ian Williams-trained Enemy was beaten a whisker by Tower Of London in the Gr.3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3,000m) in Saudi Arabia last month. Under the weight-for-age scale, four-year-old Tower Of London met Enemy six pounds better off for victory in Riyadh by a head margin in.
Al Quoz Sprint
Few in the Al Quoz Sprint can match California Spangle's exploits in downing horses of the calibre of Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior, but trainer Tony Cruz has issued a scary warning to his rivals: he just might be at his peak at 1,200m, a distance at which he has not raced in more than two years. "He's a sprinter-miler and I think he might even be best at this distance," Cruz said on the sidelines of the Meydan track. "He was so good early at sprint trips but when you have a horse like that in Hong Kong you have to try and win those mile and middle-distance races for four-year-olds. When he won the Classic Cup at 1,800m, we decided to keep him at a mile and it's worked for him but I've always been excited to get him back to a trip like this." California Spangle remains the only horse to defeat the highest-earning racehorse of all time, Golden Sixty, in the last two years.
UAE Derby
The UAE Derby is a rare three-year-old feature that allows for a clash between those bred in both hemispheres. Dominated by those from the northern hemisphere – as expected in the 1,900-metre dirt contest – four of the last seven editions at the old Nad Al Sheba course were won by horses bred in South Africa, Brazil and Argentina. Since a southerner, Musir of South Africa, won the first Meydan UAE Derby in 2010, it has been a dry run. This year, three South American-bred horses will line up for trainer Julio Olascoaga in Argentine colts Auto Bahn and Oasis Boy and Uruguayan Group 1 runner-up Rock Walk. Auto Bahn and Oasis Boy are in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, who has been victorious four times in the race.
Golden Shaheen
In early 2023, Sibelius won a Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes followed by Pelican Stakes in consecutive starts before his career-defining win by a nose in the Golden Shaheen at six furlongs. Trainer Jeremiah O’Dywer has followed the same pattern this year in his prep and reunited with Ryan Moore. UAE trainer Watson has not had the best of luck here but his hopes are on Colour Up. The six-year-old is a three-time course and distance winner. Drawn in stall 2, Tuz could challenge his American rival Sibelius, while Remake also will fancy his chances for Japan under World Cup-winning jockey Yuga Kawada.
Dubai Turf
This one is loaded with favourites, depending on each perspective. Meydan hero Lord North leads the challenge for the British and Irish horses on the racecard as he seeks a record-extending fourth success in this one. Then there is Nashwa, a three-time Group 1 winner as well as the pair of Luxembourg and Cairo from Aidan O’Brien. There is Michael Stidham’s Catnip representing American hopes, but Lord North lords at the tip board. Following him is Arima Kinen winner Do Deuce and Godolphin’s Measured Time.
Dubai Sheema Classic
For all the quality field on the Dubai World Cup programme, one horse is being labelled in advance as having the potential to shape the thoroughbred breed for years to come. That is Auguste Rodin, the highest-rated runner at the meeting on 125. Auguste Rodin is from the last crop from the prepotent Japanese stallion Deep Impact out of the Galileo mare Rhododendron. At a time when concerns exist over the diversity of the gene pool in the modern-day thoroughbred, “he brings together the best of Japan and Europe,” says trainer Aidan O’Brien, “and it’s fair to say he’s one of the most important and exciting horses we have ever had.”
Dubai World Cup
Flowing under the radar a little is Laurel River, but from a form perspective, there are few more fascinating horses than the promising sprinter-miler in the United States. Laurel River was a big Gr.2 winner over 1,400m in 2022 with two of Saturday’s rivals - Senor Buscador (third) and Defunded (sixth) - in behind. Then an injury ruled him out for a long time. He joined Dubai trainer Bhupat Seemar late last year, and scored a facile victory in the Gr.3 Burj Nahaar (1,600m) that turned Seemar’s attention to Meydan. The question for the trainer, though, is if Laurel River, untested beyond a mile, will stay the 2000-metre trip? His challenge level is raised as he is drawn the widest in the 12th post.
